Montreal Canadiens Linked to Nazem Kadri

Yesterday, I wrote about a rumor for the Canadiens about the potential of there being a trade with the Oilers that would send Patrik Laine to Edmonton for Andrew Mangiapane. Today, there is a new rumor, as there typically is this time of year, and this one has Montreal connected to Calgary forward Nazem Kadri. Kadri is under contract until the end of the 2028-29 season. He does have a 13-team no-trade list and comes with a $7 million cap hit.

The rumor is that the Flames’ asking price is similar to Brock Nelson from last season; they’d like a high-end prospect, a draft pick, and some sort of third piece, either a player or another middle-tier prospect. The Canadiens already acquired Philip Danault this season in a trade with the Kings, along with adding Alexandre Texier off waivers and extending him. Montreal is looking to add some playoff experience, and Kadri provides that.

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

The Pieces

Montreal’s top three prospects are defenseman Bryce Pickford in the WHL, Alex Belzile in the AHL, and Alexander Zharovsky in the KHL. One of those would like headline a package. Montreal has only one pick in the first three rounds this season, so one of those may be included. The final piece is where things get tricky. Could moving Laine potentially be enough? Laine does have a ten-team no-trade list, and likely Calgary may be on that list, and he’d likely refuse. So the final piece may be a potential snag if a deal were to get done. 

Nazem Kadri

Kadri is in his 17th NHL season. In 54 games this season, he has 35 points on nine goals and 26 assists. He’s a -25 with two power-play goals and a game-winning goal. In 1,039 games between three teams, he has 745 points on 316 goals and 429 assists. He’s a -75 with 95 power-play goals, a shorthanded goal, and 45 game-winning goals. He won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche back in 2022. In 52 career Stanley Cup playoff games, he has 44 points on 19 goals and 25 assists. He’s a +15 with eight power-play goals and seven game-winning goals.

• Detroit Red Wings Could Look to Calgary Flames to Fill Needs
• NHL Game Preview: Montreal Canadiens at St. Louis Blues with Line Combinations 3/25/2025
• NHL Game Preview: Montreal Canadiens at Nashville Predators with Line Combinations 4/6/2025
• NHL Game Preview: Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens with Line Combinations 1/8/2026
• NHL Game Preview: Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens with Line Combinations 1/10/2026